Massive screw up by Equita, we may now have a bailiff visit.

Amy._3

Oh god, i think im going to cry or be sick, or both.

Sorry. I'm Amy and im new to MSE but i depserately need some advice from someone who may have been there already.

Heres the full detail of it all and whats going on,

When me and andy were living in Manchester, there was an almighty !!!! up when he was on JSA, basically we were told we didn't have to pay council tax, so we didn't
2 years later and we've had a letter to our new address in lincolnshire stating we owe Manchester city council £1300
many arguments ensue with both the council and Equita the company who are the bailiffs who are making the demands for the money, in the end we realise we were totally screwed and the only way out of this is to just pay the money and learn a lesson, never take anyones word for it.

We offer Equita £15 a week to start with, and hopefully pay more each time if we can afford it, they say no the minimum we can accept is £70 a month ( it actual works out were paying less than the offer of £15 a week but hey there the experts ) We agreed to pay a minimum of £70 a month and the guy ( Manny ) even gave me his personal line/number so we didn't have to go through the offices speaking to different people each time.

We paid £80 there and then and another £40 a week later, on the 4th of January we made our first £70 payment, all was fine, i even said to the women we'll make the next payment on the 1st February another £70, and she said yes thats fine, thanks etc.

This morning 2 days before we make our next payment we've received a letter from them stating that a removal order has been issued and the bailiffs will be coming round to take our stuff!

I ring them up ( Mannys number engaged) and ask what the hell is going on?! im told that they are not at liberty to discuss it, here is the bailiffs number ( mobile typically) and i am to ring him! i tell them this has to be some kind of mistake we haven't defunkt on any payments etc, they said we agreed to £15 a week and we hadn't made a payment since the beginning of January, right now my head feels like its going to explode. I tell them i had an hour long conversation with a guy called manny who declined my offer of £15 a week, and that we agreed on £70 a month and since the middle of december had already paid £190 off, im told by this mumbling neanderthal that they are not at liberty to discuss it, i have to ring the bailiff, if a mistake has been made then Mr G****tt ( the bailiff) will certainly look into it.
Im not happy with that arrangement at all, im still trying to ring Manny but his phone is still engaged ive rung the bailiffs number but his mobile is switched off i keep getting put through to voicemail.

I'm so frustrated, i feel sick. I cycled back from the childminders earlier thinking about what a lovely day it is etc.
Yes a mistake has been made and if i can get it sorted it should be fine, all i want to do is speak to someone about this but this idiot of a bailiff has his phone switched off, im in limbo land i dont know what to do.
I cant make an offer of payment as right now its full amount or bust.
This is why i wanted to make weekly payments as they have less time to do something like this and mistakes are less likely to be made.

Im tempted to e-mail watchdog and anyone else i can find, does citizens advice have a number i could ring??

Amy xx

THE_LONE_RANGER_4

ok are you sure it has all gone to court? if so you have failed to answer the cj so now the bailiff has been istructed by the court to seize goods?, more than likely a walk in possesion.
Or is this a dca collecting the debt if so tell him to sod off , you must check has it all gone to court and gone through the legal procedure why i am a bit dubious most councils use bailiffs as a last resort they usually do an attachment of earnings, so please calm down take control and check the paper work

RAS

AMY

CT bailiffs have more power than most but at this stage, it is doubtful if they have the right to enter your house without your permission.

Can you pm debt doctor, penguin83 and Herbie21 as they know their stuff. it will help them if you can tell them the full names of the people who you are dealing with as they can work out what sort of bailiff you are dealing with.

Unless the bailiff is accompanied by police refuse him entry. keep doors and windows locked. if you let him in once he has the right to break in on other occasions.

Do not park a car near the house.

Please speak to CAB urgently as well. Do you have the documentation from the court case? Is there any way you can go back to ge the court order varied?

I think you also need to get hold of the local Authority OMbudsman and complain about the handling of this case by the LA.

Amy._3

Nothing has gone to court, we have had a total of 3 letters from the these people, first one was a letter telling us of the debt we owe, second one was a letter stating our goods would be removed etc, we rang them up it had only been about 3 days since we got the first letter! we came to the agreement of £70 a month and the only time we have spoken to them since is when i made a payment over the phone.

I haven't signed anything, I've had no letters about court, all i know i that this apparently went from the council, to the court back to the council then passed on to these idiots ( the court part is what the council do automatically isn't it? i think it had sod all to do with Equita.

Ive been reading some other threads on another website and it would seem this would be normal practice for Equita to frighten people into paying up.

The Bailiffs mobile is still switched off and the guy i tried to ring at Equita is still engaged.

Im tempted to make another payment and just keep making payments so they can just sod off

Amy._3

i live in lincolnshire near spalding does anyone know what the local authority ombudsman is?

RAS

Amy

Yes it has gone to court, from the council but what we need to know is what the court ordered.

If you have not signed anything, then you must not let them into the house.

You must clarify the status of the bailiffs, as different ones have different power.

Please contact CAB and the OPs I mentioned as they can ghelp you get this sorted.

Otherwise, you are going to have this sort of hassle over and over again.

THE_LONE_RANGER_4

so if it went to the court it has gone to the court , you may not have had the paper work so how did you no it had gone to court ?? did they the bailiffs tell you this?? you need to find out if they are dca or court appointed bailiffs ?
rsa i do think all though well intentioned your post it would frighten a lot of people these maynbe bailiffs( not a 2nd world war german invasion) and if appointed by the court will not go away the woman will end up owing more than she does now she needs to find out today if it went to court ,

grace

I had a problem with CT Bailiffs in Birmingham (resulting from a Council tax mistake, they were trying to charge us for two houses at the same time) they threatened to take our pets everything...until...I rang the Police and reported them....strangly... once the Police got envolved the whole issue was resolved immediatly...

THE_LONE_RANGER_4

it sounds to me as it has gone to court , the court has given the bailiffs the right to seize goods i from experiance no bailiffs to have leway with regards collection and the bailiff company has agreed a payment of £ the bailiffs now say the agreement hasnt been met but she says it has the ponit is the bailfiffs win the charges go on some how she has to pay i am just being a realist here im afaraid

THE_LONE_RANGER_4

take our pets everything??? bailiffs cant take livestock .

grace

THE_LONE_RANGER wrote: »

take our pets everything??? bailiffs cant take livestock .

Yes thats what the Police said...I got a letter from The Council Tax Office (It was their own company of Baliffs) appologising and they sacked the bloke who threatend us.....